Israel announced, this Thursday 17th, that he had killed the leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwarwhose death, not confirmed by the group, would be another serious blow to the Palestinian Islamist movement after more than a year of war in the Gaza Strip.
Check out what is known about the operation launched against Sinwar, who Israel considers to be one of the masterminds of the attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war:
What is known about the operation?
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday night that Yahya Sinwar had been “eliminated”.
“Mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, responsible for the October 7 massacre and atrocities, has been eliminated by (Israeli forces) soldiers,” Katz said in a press release.
The army then confirmed Sinwar’s death.
Shortly before, the Israeli army had reported that it had “eliminated three terrorists” in operations in Gaza and was carrying out tests to check whether Sinwar was among them.
The army statement does not detail where and how they were eliminated.
“There was no sign of the presence of hostages in the building where the terrorists were eliminated,” the army said, referring to the people kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack.
According to the Saudi TV channel Al-Arabiyathe operation was carried out in the Rafah region, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
O site Ynet reported that money and identity documents were found with the bodies.
The Israeli left-wing newspaper Haaretz reported that the troops involved in the operation had no information about Yahya Sinwar’s presence in the area.
What happened to the bodies?
Unverified images published online show Israeli soldiers standing around a body with a large head wound, lying in the rubble and covered in dust, resembling Sinwar.
An Israeli security source had told AFP that DNA tests were carried out on a body to confirm whether or not it was Sinwar’s.
The Israeli police and army reported, on Thursday night, that one of the exams had been completed.
“The images of the teeth were transmitted to the scientific police laboratory and DNA tests are being carried out. We will be in a position to confirm the murder when these procedures are completed,” said the statement, before the army confirmed Sinwar’s death.
What were the reactions?
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reported that the Israeli army will continue to “pursue and eliminate each terrorist.”
His message on .
A AFP contacted Hamas, which has not responded to date.
The President of the United States, Joe Bidenstated, after learning of Sinwar’s death, that this was a “good day” for Israel, the United States and the rest of the world.
In a telephone conversation, Biden congratulated the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahufor the elimination of Sinwar, according to a statement from the office of the head of government of Israel. Both considered that the death of the Hamas leader would represent “an opportunity to promote the release of the hostages” and “they would cooperate to achieve this objective”.
The vice president and Democratic candidate for President of the United States, Kamala Harrisin turn, stated that Sinwar’s death is a “chance to put an end” to the war in Gaza.
The war “must end in such a way that Israel is safe, the hostages are freed and the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”
The United States is Israel’s main ally.
